Key keen to stake his claim

After his turbo-charged start to the season, Robert Key is adamant that he can carry his first-class form into the one-day game as well, and is eager to open the batting for England during the forthcoming NatWest Series against New Zealand and West Indies.

Key brought up his 1000th first-class run on June 2 - the fastest to do so since Graeme Hick in 1988 - and celebrated his England one-day call-up with a brilliant 83 from 95 balls in a one-sided defeat of Wales in Cardiff at the weekend. He was only playing as a stand-in for Michael Vaughan, who was rested along with Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison, but that sort of success cannot be easily overlooked.

"My preference would be to open because it is something I have always done," said Key. "The only time I have really batted in the middle-order is when I played Test cricket - at times it is nice to have your feet up after fielding but the thing that is most common to me is opening. At the first net session Duncan [Fletcher] and Michael [Vaughan] came up to me and asked me how I see my role. I think if I do get a go it will either be at the top or No. 3."

After a winter in which the one-day team spent most of their time treading water, there are several details yet to be finalised ahead of Thursday's opening fixture against New Zealand at Old Trafford. Apart from the debate over Key's role, there is the possibility that England's keeper, Geraint Jones, will be pencilled in at No. 3.

"I was shocked to be batting there," Jones admitted to BBC Sport, but added that he was keen to carry on in the same vein. "I just look to go in there and hit out, with only two men outside the circle you can loft a few and take full advantage. [One-dayers] are more hectic than Test cricket, and when you're keeping you have to keep buzzing around, so I was able to work on that."

Key, meanwhile is relishing his return to England colours, and is prepared to bide his time if he is not able to break into the first XI for the opening game. "I see this as a stepping stone back into the set-up," he explained. "All this has been a bonus for me. If you look at the way the England team is going at the moment, there are not that many places up for grabs so to get this chance and play a half-decent knock in my first innings is a lot better than I expected.

"Just being back in the dressing-room is fantastic. It is a special time for the England team and to be involved in it in any form I would take above anything else."